British Open 2026: Free to Watch on Channel 5 — Here's Everything You Need to Know
The Unibet British Open Is Live and Free on Channel 5
Great news for snooker fans across the UK — the Unibet British Open is being broadcast entirely free-to-air on Channel 5, meaning you won't need a subscription or a streaming login to catch a single frame. The tournament runs from 31st August to 6th September 2026 at the magnificent Centaur arena, Cheltenham Racecourse, and with Shaun Murphy returning to defend his title in what promises to be a fiercely competitive field, this is one event you absolutely do not want to miss.
Free-to-air coverage of top-level snooker is always a win for the sport, and Channel 5 has done a solid job of bringing the game to a mainstream audience in recent years. Whether you're settled on the sofa or catching highlights on the My5 app during your commute, the coverage is accessible and — crucially — costs you nothing beyond your TV licence.
How to Watch From Outside the UK
If you're not in the UK, don't panic — there are plenty of ways to follow the action depending on where you are in the world. Mainland Europe and a wide range of selected territories are covered by Eurosport and HBO Max, which between them have solid reputations for quality snooker production. Fans in China are particularly well served, with coverage split across Huya.com, Migu, the CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel, and CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyin — a reflection of just how enormous snooker's fanbase has become in the country over the past two decades. Hong Kong viewers can tune in via China Now Sports, while Malaysia has Astro Supersport, Thailand has True Sport, Taiwan is covered by Sportcast, and New Zealand gets its coverage through Sky Sports.
For those in the Republic of Ireland or any territory not listed above, WST Play is your best option. A subscription to WST Play gives you access to a wide range of live and on-demand content throughout the entire snooker season, plus some handy extras including exclusive ticket priority for UK events. It's well worth considering if you're a serious follower of the tour.
Fancy Going in Person? Tickets Are Still Available
The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse is a brilliant venue for snooker — atmospheric, well-equipped, and with decent sight lines from virtually every seat. If you fancy making a day (or week) of it, tickets are still on sale with adult entry from just £18. Better still, if you're bringing younger fans along, there's a cracking offer for under-16s starting at £8, which makes this one of the more family-friendly events on the calendar from a cost perspective. Full ticket details are available through the official WST website.
Murphy Returns to Defend — But the Field Will Be Fierce
Shaun Murphy arrives at Cheltenham as the defending champion, and the Magician will be eager to show that last year's victory was no fluke. Murphy has always had the temperament for big occasions, and his all-action style tends to go down well with live crowds. That said, the British Open has historically thrown up compelling contests and surprise results — it's not a tournament where the favourite simply strolls through.
From a betting perspective, keep a close eye on the tournament draw once it's confirmed and watch for value in the early rounds, where top seeds can sometimes be caught cold. The mid-week stages, in particular, often see the most interesting pricing as the market adjusts to early results. We'll have full tips and betting analysis throughout the week here on SnookerWins, so bookmark this page and check back regularly from the 31st.
Key Tournament Details at a Glance
Dates: 31st August – 6th September 2026
Venue: Centaur Arena, Cheltenham Racecourse
UK TV: Channel 5 (free-to-air)
Europe: Eurosport / HBO Max
Tickets: Adults from £18 | Under-16s from £8
Outside listed territories: WST Play
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